PRP, transplants, lasers and the clinic menu: an honest guide for women

22 January 2026  ·  8 min read  ·  Reviewed for accuracy September 2026

At some point most women with thinning hair look at the clinic websites. This is the guide I wish they had first: what each thing on the menu is, what the evidence actually shows for women, and what it costs in the UK, so that the consultation is a conversation rather than a pitch.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

What it is: your own blood is drawn, spun to concentrate the platelets, and the plasma is injected into the scalp in a grid, typically three sessions a month apart and then top-ups. Platelets carry growth factors that signal follicles. Evidence: moderate. Several small trials in female pattern loss show increased hair density at six months; the effect fades without maintenance. Preparation methods vary enormously between clinics and so do results. Cost: around £400–£800 a session, so £1,500–£3,000 for a course, then maintenance. For: a woman with pattern thinning who has ruled out the treatable causes, tolerates needles, and can afford maintenance. Not for a shed with a cause, and not in pregnancy.

Low-level laser and LED caps

What it is: a helmet, cap or comb of red lasers or LEDs worn for 10–25 minutes several times a week. Evidence: moderate for a modest effect; several trials show small increases in density over six months, with device quality mattering. Cost: £300–£2,000 to buy; some clinics rent. For: a woman who will actually wear it, as an add-on. On its own it is mild.

Microneedling

What it is: a roller or pen of fine needles run over the scalp, at home or in clinic, to stimulate the skin and improve absorption of whatever is applied afterwards. Evidence: moderate, mostly as a booster to minoxidil; trials show it roughly doubles minoxidil’s effect. Cost: £20 for a home roller; £150–£300 a clinic session. For: a woman using a topical treatment who wants more from it. Sterility matters; a home roller shared or reused dirty is an infection risk. Once a week, gently.

Hair transplant

What it is: follicles from the back of the head, which are not androgen-sensitive, are moved to the front or crown. Evidence: excellent, for the right candidate. The catch for women: most female pattern thinning is diffuse — the back and sides are thinner too — which means there is less good donor hair and the transplanted follicles are surrounded by hair that is still thinning. Women with a stable, well-defined recession at the temples and a dense donor area do well; women with diffuse thinning often do not, and a reputable surgeon will say so. Cost: £4,000–£12,000 in the UK. For: a minority of women; a woman with traction loss at the temples that has stabilised, or a hairline that has receded and stopped. Always a UK-registered surgeon, always a second opinion, never as a first step.

Scalp injections of steroid or anti-androgen

Steroid injections are for alopecia areata and inflammatory conditions and work well. Injected or mesotherapy “hair cocktails” of vitamins, minoxidil and various actives have little evidence, vary wildly, and are the part of the menu to be most sceptical of.

Exosomes, stem cells, growth-factor injections

Marketed heavily, evidence thin to none in humans, regulated loosely, expensive. Not yet.

Prescription medication via the clinic

Oral minoxidil, spironolactone, finasteride, and compounded topicals. These have real evidence and a clinic doctor can prescribe them, which a GP often cannot. The minoxidil guide covers the main one. Prices vary; the drugs themselves are cheap.

How to use a consultation

Take your blood results, your photographs and your ponytail numbers. Ask what the diagnosis is, in words, before anything is recommended. Ask what the evidence is in women specifically, what happens when you stop, and what the total cost over two years will be. Be wary of a clinic that recommends its full menu, that sells its own supplement, or that will not say what it thinks is causing the thinning.